Magnetic descending toy



Jan. 6, 1953 v. F. WIGAL MAGNETIC DESCENDING TOY Filed May 10, 1949 IN VEN TOR. \orhis F Wigal 2" Patented Jan. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 2,624,151 MAGNETIC DESCENDING TOY Voorhis F.'Wigal, Marietta, Ohio Application May 10, 1949, Serial No. 92,337

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a toy figure which is adapted to engage in a skipping or hopping action as it progresses along a surface. I have found that such animated behavior may be accomplished in a figure equipped with a surfaceengaging member which is of resilient construction, and which is disposed at an angle to the surface over which it moves with the surfaceengaging portion leading the member in the direction of progress.

The action is the same by whatever agency the figure is caused to progress, motor, hand-power, or the force of gravity, and the action takes place irrespective of the inclination of the surface, including the vertical.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a device which will bound intermittently as a consequence of resistance to motion along a surface. Another object is to provide a device having a means of constant support as it progresses along a surface and an auxiliary support in intermittent engagement during such progress. More particularly, it is an object to provide a device which bounds in response to interaction of a member with a surface when the device moves along the surface. In still greater particular, it is an object to provide a device which will cling to a vertical surface while descending therealong with oscillatory motion to and from the surface. A further object is to provide a toy figure which will simulate the bounding, hopping, or skipping motion of an animal.

These andother objects are attained by the invention, certain preferred forms of which are described in the specification below and illustrated in the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a toy bird adhered to a vertical wall in position for descent.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bird, enlarged;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail taken on the line 4-4- of Fi 3;

Fig. 515 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a bird with a modified bound-producing element; I

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a toy donkey adapted for pullin along a surface;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views showing subsequent positions of the donkey of Fig. 6; and r r Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with a cart added and a modified position of the pivot around which the bounding action occurs. I

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown in Fig. 1' a toy inthe simulation of a Woodpecker having a head I, torso 2:, and tail 3. An extension 4 of the torso,

2 at the tail end of the bird, has a pair of downturned flanges 5 in which is journaled a roller 6. The latter is magnetic, with the poles as indicated in Fig. 3. The roller 6 is adapted to secure the bird to a vertical surface during descent therealong.

A rubber leg member 3 is fixed to the torso of the bird. The exact shape and size of this member can be varied in considerable degree while maintaining the novel action of this invention, the essential requirements being that it be resilient and disposed at an angle to the surface engaged by the bird. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the leg element 8 comprises a piece of rubber tubing from which a portion has been removed as at 9 to facilitate flexure of the leg. The upper portion of tube 8 abuts the underside of the back portion ll] of the bird and is held in position by a cross pin l I carried by the wings l2 of the bird. The tube is notched as at 8' to represent a pair of feet.

In operation of the Fig. l modificationthe figure is applied to a vertical, magnetically responsive surface l3 and released. The roller 6 holds the rear portion of the bird to the surface I3 and the weight of the bird tends to carry it downward, turning the roller 6. However, the resilient foot 8 offers frictional resistance to downward motion, with the result that it remains in engagement at a fixed point on the surface and downward motion of the bird results in a distortion of the leg 8 until the friction is overcome, whereupon the foot of leg 8 advances to a new position and, in straightening out, causes a swinging ofthe bird as awhole about the axis of roller 6. In the rapid descent of the bird, the duration of contact between leg 8 and surface I3 is of such brief interval that deformations in the leg are .not perceivable and are, in fact, small. The action is similar to that of an escapement and proceeds according to a natural frequency requiring little energy storage in the leg 8 to cause the rebound of the figure.

The tail 3 is preferably formed of rubber or similarly resilient material so as to limit the amplitude of bobbing of the bird with a cushioned effect.

In Fig. 5 is shown a form in which the magnetic roller 6 is located somewhat forwardly of the tail and serves as the feet of the bird. In this case the beak M of the bird is the resilient or bouncing member and, as the bird descends the vertical surface 13, the body will oscillate about the axis of roller 6, being limited in amplitude by the rubber tail IB.

In Figs. 6 to 8, the principle is shown as applied to a pull type toy. A toy figure 16, a donkey for instance, has one or more fixed front legs I! mounted on a pair of wheels H3 or other rolling device. The rear support for the donkey is provided in a leg or pair of legs 19 of rubber-like material, fixed at the upper end to the body of the donkey and inclined, at least at the lower end, to the supporting surface 20. The action is the same as in "the case of the birds oflFigs. 1 and 5 except that in the Fig. 6 modification, as pull is applied on pull cord 2 I, it is the rear of the animal which rises and falls about the axis of the roller support. In Fig. 7, it will be noted that the lower, thin portion of the leg 19 has been bent somewhat due to the fact that the figure has moved while the foot of leg 19 has not yetmoved from its original point of contact with surface 20 and is storing energy to accomplish the leap of Fig. 8. This bending may be excessive, as shown, at the commencement of motion along the surface. However, once the action is started, the time of dwell of the foot on the surface is extremely-short and the deformation of leg 19 is probably largely one "of compression.

For proper operation, it is important that the wheels l3 contact the surface 23 continuously as in'the case of rollers 6. Therefore, in the case of gravity held wheels or rollers, they should be weighted suitably.

InIthe' Fig.9 modification, the front leg22 and neck 23 of .Itherdonkey are integral with the shaft 2 of a cart 25' having wheels 26. The body 27 of the animalis pivoted to the shaft at the junction of the latter with leg 22. It will be seen that by this construction, not only is more weight available tohold down wheel 16, butthat in addition the pull cord 21 may be attached at a higher elevation to the head of the animal, since the head does not take part in the oscillation and there is, therefore, less tendency to lift the front portion of the figure in pulling.

Obviously, in any form of toy chosen, the bouncing support may be located either forwardly or rearwardly of the constantly contacting support. For instance, in Fig. '9, theleg 22 could be moved rearwardly on the shaft 24 and the rubberl'eg is moved forwardly on the body 21. If the legs in the Fig. 6 modification were interchanged'the 'pull cord could be attached to the rear legs, or a push rod could be employed.

While certain preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described, the invention :is not limited thereby and various changes in the size, shape, and arrangement, for instance, of the various parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

What'is claimed is:

1. An animated toy having a support including a magnetic roller adapted to maintain the toyin contact with a steeply inclined surface, and a fixed arm extending from said toy in advance of said roller, at least the lower end of said arm comprising a material withelasticprOperties similar to rubber, andat least the lower end of said arm bein arranged at an acuteang-le tothe part of said surface between said rollerrand saidarm.

2. An animated toy having a support includin a magnetic roller adapted to maintain the toy in contact with a steeply inclined'surface, a fixed arm'extending from said toy in advance of said roller, at least the lower end of said :arm comprising a material with elastic properties similar to rubber and at least the lower end of said arm being arranged at an acute angle to the part of said surface between said roller and said arm, and spring means on said toy rearwardly of said roller spaced from said surface when said arm is in contact therewith but positioned for contact with said surface when said arm is separated from said surface during oscillation of said toy about the axis of said roller.

3. An animated toy having a support including a magnetic roller adapted to maintain the toy in contact with a steeply inclined surface, a fixed arm extending from said toy in advance of said roller, at least the lower end of said arm comprising a material with elastic properties similar to rubber and at least the lower end of said arm being arranged at an acute angle to the part of said surface between said roller and said arm, and a second arm of rubberlike material on said toy, rearwardly of said roller, spaced fromsaid surface when the first-mentioned arm is in contact therewith, but adapted to contact said surface when said first-mentioned arm is separated from said surface during oscillation of said toy about the axis-of said roller.

4. A device as inclaim 1, said toy being in the form of a bird, said arm located to simulate the legs of said bird, and said roller located in the vicinity of the tail of said bird.

5. A device as in claim 2, said toy being in the form of .a bird, said arm located to simulate the legs .QfsaidbirQ-said roller located in the vicinity of :the tail of said bird, and said spring means constituting the tail'ofsaid bird.

6. A device as in claim 1, said toy being in the form of a bird, said roller constituting the legs of said bird, and said arm constituting the beak of-said bird.

7. A device as in claim 1, said toy. being in the form of an animal, said arm constituting legs of said animal, and said roller located near the rear extremity of said animal.

3. An animated toy having asupport including a magnetic roller adapted to maintain the toy in contact with a steeply inclined surface, a fixed, resilient arm extending from said toy in advance of saidroller, at least the lowerend of said arm comprising -a material having a frictional resistance sufficient to impede downwardprogress of the toy, and at least the lower portion of said arm being arranged at an acute angle to the part of said surface between said roller and said arm, whereby on oscillation of said toy about the axis of-saidroller during descent .the end of said .arm intermittently contacts said surface 'to provide interruption to downward descent of said toy.

VOORHIS F. WIGAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file 'ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

